Mandolin bridge Help

[Luke]

I am after a bridge to repair an old cheap Harmony mandolin A5 style.
It has the typical adjustably set up not sure of the correct name.Anyhow it has broke in the middle have araldited it together until I find a replacement.

Can't seem to find one local and ALS don't have any in stock.
Any one have a spare for sale or know of a supplier.
thanks folks

[graham mcdonald]

It doesn't take a great deal of effort or skill to make a new one from a chunk of ebony or rosewood, or even one of the heavy Australian hardwoods like mulga or gidgee.

Alternatively, at least a coupler of the wholesalers in this country (like AMS - Australaisan Music Supplies or Paytons or Lamberti Brothers) will sell things like mando bridges or the bridge pins someone was after a week or so back. They are wholesalers, so they won't deal directly with you, but any music shop will have an account with most of them and will be able to order bits and pieces in for you.

cheers

graham

[sebastiaan56]

Luke,

The Gibson style bridges are widely available, http://www.stewmac.com/shopby/Instrumen ... ridge.html try EPay

Personally, Id take Grahams advice of making one from local hardwood if I were you. The bridges with the thumbwheels lose energy and are not as loud or clear sounding. Red Henry has some interesting ideas on bridges and improving the sound of mandolins http://www.murphymethod.com/redbridge.html

[Luke]

Thanks guys for your help. Might have a crack at making one.
Luke.

[sebastiaan56]

Attaboy!

[Arnt]

One of the advantages to making your own is that you can make it so the instrument will intonate better than it most likely will with a standard bridge. As for which type of bridge design will sound best, that is a much debated subject in the mandolin crowd... If you are used to the sound of the standard Gibson type adjustable ebony bridge, you might not like the sound of other (better?) designs. A lighter bridge should generally be louder, whether it is an improvement in sound is a different matter. And, some types of bridges seem to work better on some instruments. At any rate, it is an easy and interesting test to do for yourself.

Here's what Frank Ford has to say about it:
http://www.frets.com/FRETSpages/Musicia ... ndobr.html

[Luke]

Thanks for the links guys.
There is some interesting info there.
I am going to give a bit of Vic Ash/Tassie oak ago.
I made a biscuit bridge for my home made resonator guitar out of it and sounded as good if not better than the Maple one I brought from USA.

Luke.